View full sizeDover Public Safety Director Richard Rosell pitched the idea of an unpaid auxiliary police department during his interview for the position last year. Rosell said the approximately 10-volunteer staff would mostly assist emergency services, but could help law enforcement. Twitter

DOVER — Faced with a lack of funds and a short-staffed police force, Dover voted recently to establish a volunteer auxiliary police department.

The town plans to recruit approximately 10 residents who will mostly assist its Office of Emergency Management, but could also be used by the police department for less-intense tasks, such as directing traffic in a blackout, Public Safety Director Richard Rosell said.

Interviews will start within the next couple of weeks and the unpaid department should be running by around June, he said. Members would be under the direction of Police Chief Harold "Butch" Valentine and OEM Coordinator Rich Riley. The volunteers, who would serve renewable one-year terms, wouldn't report to Rosell.

Valentine and Mayor James Dodd couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

Rosell said he hopes to fit two or three new regular policemen in 2013 budget using room freed up via a few recent high-salary retirements, but that the volunteers could allow officers to spend more time on law enforcement.

The Dover Police Department has 30 officers, which include 18 patrolmen.

Rosell said he pitched the idea of the unpaid force to Dodd during his interview for public safety director, a position he's held since September. He brought it up again as the town reviewed its response to Hurricane Sandy.

Untrained town employees and residents shouldn't be relied upon to run shelters or warming centers during emergencies, the public safety director said, like they were during the storm in Dover.

"I think the town did a great job" handling Sandy, Rosell said, "however, [emergency shelters] should be staffed by people who have a little bit more training than civilians."

The volunteers, who would also be subordinate to regular officers, would undergo auxiliary police training at a nearby county academy. They would then be required to spend at least 10 hours a month either training or assisting the police or OEM.

CONNECT WITH US

During the department's developmental years, officers will be expected to carry out duties mostly aimed at public safety. Among their main duties would be to help control traffic, control large crowds, and help pass along warnings and information to the public, according to Ordinance 18-2012.

Though, at some point, they could be given power to stop a motor vehicle, issue a summons or even carry a gun.

Rosell said he doesn't expect the volunteers to have permission to carry a firearm for a long time — if ever — but if they did, they would have to undergo extensive training, get the OK from the police chief.

The officers would also need permission to carry "less lethal weapons,"
according to the ordinance, such as a baton or pepper spray. All weapons
would be required to remain at the police station during off hours and could only be accessed by a regular police officer.

The volunteers would be selected based of various criteria, such as good moral character and possession of a driver's license, and must pass a background check, according to the ordinance. They would also wear uniforms while on patrol distinguishing themselves form the official police department, Rosell said.

Rosell was previously the public safety director in Springfield, which has has an auxiliary police force for years, he said.

"Seeing them operate," said Rosell, referring to Springfield's department, "and seeing all the things you could do with them, it was certainly something you need to consider."